Police officer loses her prisoner at city stoplight

When a police officer who lacked handcuffs or a van with security features thought it was up to her to drive a 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound convicted drug dealer from Jessup to Baltimore, she had him sit beside her in the front of a state van.

And when Officer Deborah Barron stopped for a downtown red light, Marcus Anderson jumped out and ran.

He’s still running.

Barron didn’t have a cell phone or radio. When the light changed and drivers behind her started honking, she drove alone to the courthouse where Anderson was supposed to stand trial. Then she reported him missing.

After hearing from a police lieutenant why Anderson wasn’t in Circuit Court, Judge Charles G. Bernstein allowed the trial for illegal possession of a firearm to proceed anyway.

“If I were a young, enterprising criminal, I’d come to Baltimore to set up my practice,” a clearly annoyed Bernstein said. “This is the place to be. This is the Promised Land.”

A jury found Anderson guilty. He’ll be sentenced whenever the police can find him.

— The Sun